Right in time for the season of leather jackets, Kep1er returned with a girl crush concept. Leaving its usual cute and perky image behind, the girl group dropped its third EP, “Troubleshooter,” Thursday evening. This marks a return after nearly four months for the rookie K-pop act, since its second EP, “Doublast,” in June. Before releasing the new album, the band successfully forayed into Japan's music market with its Japanese debut album, “Fly-Up,” last

K-pop Oct. 13, 2022

Having spent a year away from music, singer Park Ji-hoon has returned with his sixth EP, “The Answer,” which dropped Wednesday evening. “I was on hiatus for quite a long time since I was busy shooting a drama and doing other activities. I’m a little nervous and excited at the same time thinking that I’ll be able to see my fans in person,” he said during Wednesday’s online press conference. “Since I’m putting out an album after so long, I dyed

K-pop Oct. 13, 2022

진행자: 박준희, Beth Eunhee Hong 1. Soaring drug use catches Korea unprepared 기사 요약: 마약 유통과 공급이 다양한 통로로 급속도로 퍼지면서 한국은 “마약 청정국”에서 벗어나고 있다. 마약 늪에 빠진 한국, 그 해법은? Korea, once touted by the government as “drug-free,” is seeing a fast rise in drug offences. Experts say the government’s belated crackdown is not enough, and prevention and rehabilitation efforts are needed alongside it. * Touted: 장점을 내세우다 * Drug-free: 마약, 마약 복용자가 없는 * Offence: 위법행위; 범죄 * Crackdown: 엄중 단속 * Rehabil

Podcast Oct. 13, 2022

Global multi-channel network Soon Ent held its "World Creators’ Halloween” event with Everland, South Korea’s largest outdoor amusement park, on Saturday. Around 300 content creators, including WonJung and Kazakhstan influencer Homa, who has 48.3 million and 45.2 million followers on TikTok, respectively, were present during the event. During the event, the creative producers created their own content in places like Halloween-themed photo zones and tuned visitors into the

Culture Oct. 12, 2022

With sounds of rustling leaves as a backdrop across the country, girl group Mamamoo made its way back to the music charts as a full unit with its 12th EP, “Mic On,” which released Tuesday evening. This marks a return for the band a year after “I Say,” an album that celebrated the K-pop act’s seventh anniversary in September 2021. During Tuesday’s press conference, Solar said the new album shows who Mamamoo is. Moon-byul added that the album’s title could

K-pop Oct. 11, 2022

The highlight of the spectacle-filled Korean culture event “K Culture Festival 2022” beckoned fans from in and out of the country to “The-K Concert.” Founded in 2020 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and its affiliated private Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, the festival has been held annually to promote Hallyu, or the Korean Wave. Jointly hosted by the two, the Culture Ministry’s annual large-scale, global event commenced on Sept. 3

Culture Oct. 10, 2022

K-pop singers met with the audience at a K-pop concert titled “The-K Concert” on Friday at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in southern Seoul. Jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliated private Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, the festival has been held annually to promote Hallyu, or the Korean Wave.

Culture Oct. 8, 2022

As once-verdant leaves are transforming into reds and browns of autumn, Stray Kids welcomed the season with their new album “Maxident” on Friday evening to navigate the seasons of love. This marks the boy band’s return nearly seven months after it released its sixth EP, “Oddinary,” in March. “We didn’t know how to prepare for our new album. We’ve received so much love in the thick of our second ‘Maniac’ world tour, and our skills and st

K-pop Oct. 7, 2022

Dramatic drum rolls, electric guitar riffs and flashing lights built an electric atmosphere at KBS Arena Thursday night ahead of Australian singer-songwriter and rapper The Kid LAROI bursting onto the stage. As the crowd roared, the singer jumped onstage with a beaming smile on his face. The 90-minute set jumped back and forth through the musician’s three-year musical journey, switching from an upbeat ballad to several unreleased tracks, showing off what it felt like to return to pre-pande

Performance Oct. 7, 2022

With much anticipation, Treasure is ready to hop on a new treasure hunt with its second EP, “The Second Step: Chapter Two,” making its grand return eight months since enjoying success with its first EP, “The Second Step: Chapter One.” Ahead of the album’s release on Tuesday, the rookie boy band’s members shared their thoughts and musical ideas that went into its forthcoming musical project via an official press release Q&A. Q. How does it feel to release a

K-pop Oct. 3, 2022

Actor and songstress Suzy is making a return to music with a new digital single, “Cape,” on Thursday. According to her agency Management Soop, the singer-songwriter is making her way back seven months after the release of “Satellite” on Feb. 17, which she wrote the lyrics for. It added that her upcoming single has also been written by the musician. “Cape” has a folk-based melody that gives off an ethereal ambiance. The song’s musical arrangement is mainl

K-pop Oct. 3, 2022

After three years of pandemic-related setbacks, the Melon Music Awards are returning offline, according to Kakao Entertainment, which runs Melon, the nation’s largest music streaming platform. The South Korean entertainment giant said Thursday that the 14th edition of the event will be held at its usual ceremony venue at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, southwestern Seoul, on Nov. 26. This year’s event will be presented by Kakao Bank, the banking affiliate of the Korean internet firm. &l

K-pop Sept. 29, 2022

South Korean music producer Don Spike was arrested on Monday for illegal drug use and is currently under investigation on charges of violating the Narcos Control Act, according to Nowon police. Don Spike was arrested at a hotel in Gangnam, southern Seoul, around 8 p.m. on Monday, where police seized 30 grams of methamphetamine. Don Spike tested positive for the drug. The amount of drugs that was found is equivalent to approximately 1,000 doses, considering the average dose of methamphetamine is

Social Affairs Sept. 27, 2022

One thing K-pop fans, or listeners who love Korean music in general, haven’t heard much of and enjoyed in the past few years is retro K-pop. Younger music aficionados may not know much about this genre, but songs from those earlier times had catchy melodies that were easy on the ears and simply fun to listen to on repeat. That’s what Xiumin of boy band Exo hopes to do with his first-ever solo musical project, “Brand New,” which was released on Monday evening. As a singer

K-pop Sept. 27, 2022

Months after celebrating his 10th anniversary, Xiumin of boy band EXO welcomed the rustling sound of falling leaves with his first-ever solo album, “Brand New,” released Monday evening. The singer-turned-soloist is the seventh bandmate to go solo, while other members like Baekhyun, Kai and Suho have branched out as a soloist with their own musical projects. In a press conference Monday hosted by his bandmate Sehun, Xiumin described the new album as his “turning point.” &l

K-pop Sept. 26, 2022